| 释义 |
eldest, a.|ˈɛldɪst|
Forms: 1 eldest(a, ældest(a, (WS. ieldest(a, yldest(a), yltst, 2 ylste, 2–3 ealdeste, eldeste, 3 eldast, -ost, -ust, (heldest, 5 eeldist), 3– eldest, north. eildest.
[OE. ęldest(a, superl. of OE. ald (WS. eald) old; cf. OFris. eldest(a, OHG. altist(o (mod.G. ältest(e), Goth. alþist(a:—OTeut. *aldisto- (-on-). See elder a.]
The original form of the superlative of old; now superseded by oldest exc. in special uses.
†1. Of persons or things: Most aged, farthest advanced in age. Also absol. (quasi-n.). Obs. in general sense: replaced by oldest.
It is, however, still not unusual to speak of ‘the (two or three) eldest members of a family,’ ‘the eldest of the company,’ etc.; but this is due either to some slight notion of precedence or superior rank conferred by seniority, or to the wish to avoid the implication that the persons are, absolutely, old.
c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 11 Seðe eower yltst [c 1160 Hatton G. yldest] sy beo se eower þen. c1205Lay. 2721 Gloigin hehte þa alre elduste [1250 heldeste]. a1300Cursor M. 5847 Wid the eldest folk of israel. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. liii. [lii.] 190 The eldest man that lyuyng neuer saw nor herde of the lyke. 1559Morwyng Evonym. 323 A sexta or xx unces of the eldest wine. 1607–12Bacon Parents & Childr., Ess. (Arb.) 274/1 A man shall see where there is a howsefull of Children, one or two of the eldest respected. 1611Bible John viii. 9 They..went out..beginning at the eldest, euen vnto the last [so 1881 in R.V.].
2. The first-born, or the oldest surviving (member of a family, son, daughter, etc.). Also quasi-n.
c1000ælfric Gen. xliv. 12 He sohte fram þam yldestan oþ þone ᵹingestan. c1175Cott. Hom. 227 Se asprang of Noes ylste sune. c1205Lay. 2930 Þa ældeste dohter haihte Gornoille [1275 eldeste]. c1230Hali Meid. 41 Heo of alle unþeawes is his ealdeste dohter. 1297R. Glouc. (1724) 381 Normandye hys erytage he ȝef hys eldoste sone Roberd þe Courtese. a1300Cursor M. 4119 An was eildest o þe elleuen..ruben. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vi. xiv. 199 Lawe woll that the eldest sone haue the more parte of therytage. 1536Wriothesley Chron. (1875) I. 50 The Erle of Ruttlandes eldyste daughter. 1595Shakes. John i. 159 Good old sir Roberts wiues eldest sonne. 1715De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. iv. (1841) I. 86 Why not..with you as well as with your eldest sister. 1788J. Powell Devises (1827) II. 365 A testator..desired that the first annuity..might devolve upon the eldest child. 1818Cruise Digest VI. 320 The eldest son had but an estate for life. 1887R. Garnett Carlyle 12 Carlyle was the eldest of nine children.
3. Earliest, first produced; first, most ancient. arch. Also quasi-n.
c897K. ælfred Gregory's Past. xliii. 313 Ðæt we ᵹemyndᵹiað ðære scylde þe ure ieldesta mæᵹ us on forworhte. 1340Ayenb. 104 He [God] is þe eldeste and þe meste yknawe. c1449Pecock Repr. iii. xix. 406 In the eeldist tyme. 1593Hooker Eccl. Pol. iv. vii, Neither is the example of the eldest Churches a whit more auailable. 1602Shakes. Ham. iii. iii. 37 My offence..hath the primall eldest curse vpon't. 1649Selden Laws Eng. i. xxxix. (1739) 59 Of Imprisonment there was little use in the eldest times. 1681Dryden Abs. & Achit. 458 And Self-defence is Nature's Eldest Law. 1773Ld. Monboddo Language (1774) I. i. vii. 87 Matter must be the eldest of things. 1801Southey Thalaba xi. xii, Thou the eldest, thou the wisest, Guide me. 1819Shelley Cenci v. iv. 101 Plead with the swift frost That it should spare the eldest flower of spring.
†4. Mil. Senior in rank or standing. Obs.
1721Lond. Gaz. No. 5930/1 The eldest Battallion of Foot-Guards.
5. In Card-playing. eldest hand, the first player; the right of playing first.
1599Minsheu Dialogues Sp. & Eng. (1623) 26/2, I did lift an ace..I a fower..I a sixe, whereby I am the eldest hand. 1680Cotton Compl. Gamester in Singer Hist. Cards (1816) 342 If there be three kings, &c. turned up, the eldest hand wins it. 1719D'Urfey Pills I. 99 The 'tothers eldest Hand Gave Hopes to make a Jest on 't. 1876A. Campbell-Walker Correct Card (1880) Gloss. 11 Eldest hand, the player on the dealer's left hand.
†6. Law. eldest part: (see quot.) Obs.
1641Termes de la Ley 137 The eldest part. Enitia pars is that part that upon partition amongst coparceners falls unto the eldest sister or auncientest coparcener.
7. Comb., as eldest-born, eldest-hearted.
1605Shakes. Lear i. i. 55 Gonerill Our eldest borne speak first. 1840Carlyle Heroes i. 7 Man..the eldest born of a certain genealogy. 1853Kingsley Hypatia i. 7 They had elected Pambo for their abbot..eldest-hearted of them. |